I got back home late last night after a great end to the Europe trip final tabling the EPT high roller event. Not sure when it's going to be on TV in each country but if anyone finds that info out let me know.

It was broadcast live over the internet though which was fun since I was able to call my Mom on break and she was able to watch me play. I showed up a bit late after the dinner break and got a panicked call from her asking where I was since the commentators were apparently remarking how I was late and they were starting without me.

Some random stories from the High roller:

With about 3 or 4 tables left I was in a game with Negreanu, Medic and Jason Mercier who I thought was also Canadian and I made a comment to Jason about how crazy it was that so many Canadians were at this table... he looked confused for a second and then realizing what I meant told me he was actually from Miami but people make that mistake a lot. I asked him if that bothered him that people thought he was Canadian and as he was about to reply Barry G. who was also at the table says, "Damnit I've been playing you like a Canadian this whole time"

I don't think I ever won a PF all in where I had less then 60% equity the whole tournament which is kind of crazy even in a 86 player field but I did super cooler Juanda on the final table bubble which helped me become the chip leader heading into the final table.

I was really surprised at some people's play in this event. Isabelle Mercier played about how I was expecting her to on the bubble (very tight) since I know making the televised final table is a big deal for her but I was shocked at how insanely tightly Scotty Nguyen played the entire way down from two table until his 5th place finish. His play at the final table was just insanely insanely tight. It really changed the whole game, all of us had to play much more cautiously then would usually be correct until he had been eliminated since he hung around with very few chips for a while, winning several all ins including two against me.

Scotty was also his usual jovial self having had quite a few drinks once we were several hours into the tournament. For whatever reason he seemed to take quite a liking to me and kept complimenting me on my table manners to the point of awkward excess. I like Scotty fine, I was just slightly weirded out at how insistent he was at continously saying things like, "You know baby, you are what all young guns should be act like baby" and other less sensical things on that tangent. I kind of felt like he was trying to make up for the H.O.R.S.E final table and asked me several times if I would defend myself if someone started to talk smack to me, which of course I would but I wouldn't exactly relate that hypothetical situation to the H.O.R.S.E fiasco. Anyway it just added some flavor to the whole experience and Scotty overall is a funny likable guy so no big deal.

I played with Barry for while in this event and in the EPT london event and had him covered most of the time but still no book I really really want one now, I think more people should have a similar kind of bounty/trophy/gimmick thing, maybe I should give people some kind of Leggo thing or something? It would have to be awesome though to compete with the book signing.


After I came 4th Tom (durrr) Brian (Chuddo) and my friend Kaitlin and I went out to some Arcade place that had bowling and stuff and then met up with Sorel (Imperium/Zangbezan) and some people at some random club. It was a little tough to find a good spot since it was Monday night but we ended up at a pretty good place that looked busy (can't remember the name right now). We grabbed a table there and Tom remembered that Ivey had recommended earlier we come here and just as he mentioned that Ivey walks up behind us and says hi. Ivey is a huge badass, he was wearing a white t shirt and white shoes, probably the only person in the place who can get away with it and has a couple friends with him that apparently are like his entourage and they are partying with a whole bunch of rando looking model chicks. He leaves talking to us and climbs back over into his booth and orders 5 bottles of Cristal. What a baller. The place ended up being great and it was really fun night and fitting end to the trip.

More stories to come later on this is getting a little long

-Peter Jetten